Improving weather conditions are assisting Consumers Energy in restoring more than 300,000 customers left without power during two days of high winds across Michigan.
Consumers Energy crews have been working around the clock to help restore more than 319,000 customers left without power during two days of high winds across Michigan. As of 11 a.m. today, 178,000 customers were still without power after winds in excess of 60 mph blew through the state. Since Tuesday afternoon, 319,000 customers have been affected in the high winds that took down 7,900 wires and broke more than 1,000 poles.
Because of the storm’s duration and statewide impact, some customers in the worst impacted areas may not have power restored until Sunday. The National Weather Service is forcasting colder temperatures in the mid-thirties for today with light winds of 6 to 8 miles per hour. Blustery conditions will return on Friday.
A number of area businesses will remain closed today, including restaurants, retailers, manufacturers and offices.
Area school closings as of 6:30am today include:
Columbia
da Vinci Institute – Parent conferences at the primary campus will be held
Jackson Christian
Jackson College — Maher (North) Campus only
Lumen Christi Catholic School
Napoleon — including daycare
Northwest — including childcare and preschool
Paragon Charter Academy
T.A. Wilson Academy — All other Jackson Public Schools are open
Trinity Lutheran School — including daycare
“We have been working through the night and making steady progress,” said Guy Packard, vice president of energy operations. “The lighter winds make for improved working conditions for our crews. We appreciate their commitment to safety and our customers’ continued patience.”
From lineworkers to damage assessors, wire guards and customer service representatives, more than 2,000 people are engaged in the storm restoration effort. An additional 130 workers have arrived from utilities in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana to assist the crews in Michigan.
Customers can now sign up to get outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email or text message, Text ‘REG’ to 232273 or visit: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts. Customers can also, report an outage, check the status of an outage and get useful tips what to do before, during and after a storm by visiting www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter.
Consumers Energy urges the public to keep these safety tips in mind:
- Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and to call 911 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
- Be alert to crews working along roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they safely can go past workers on roadsides.
- Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement or near any air intakes, and never fuel a generator when it is running. Operating a generator without proper ventilation can create carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. If using a generator, contact a licensed electrician to ensure that it is properly connected and make certain it is isolated from the company’s electric distribution system.
- In some cases, the mast which holds the electric service wires to a customer’s home or business may have been damaged or torn away. Crews will reconnect the wires to a home, but only a licensed electrician can repair or replace a mast or a cable.
To view specific counties and regions most affected by electric interruptions, please visit: https://www.consumersenergy.com/outagemap
